“In the Southern US (Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri) we do eat black eyed peas and greens (the greens aren’t as required), but we also eat hog jowl, which is like a very fatty bacon. It is absolutely required that black eyed peas and hog jowl be eaten at the mid day meal to ensure luck through the year. I’d never heard of them being representative of money, just that eating them is for good luck. You’ll have bad luck if you don’t eat them.” -Miah

“My dad used to say pork is for luck, black-eyed peas and collards for prosperity.”-James Knight

Here are some photos of what James is cooking for dinner tonight for the New Year. He wrote, “Hoppin’ John pork and black-eyed peas, plus a large pot of collards. A raw, unfiltered cider vinegar along with some smoky pork as the base for the collards makes it pop!”

Ashton wrote, “Another example of pig in the Southern United States is hog jaw. I’m from Alabama, and we always have cornbread, collard or turnip greens, black eyed peas, and hog jaw. We also always put a coin in either the greens or the peas, and the person who gets the coin in their serving is supposed to be lucky and have success all year.”

Thank you all for sharing your New Years traditions. Here’s wishing everyone a prosperous New Year!

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Advertisement

Mama Lisa's Books

Our books feature songs in the original languages, with translations into English. Many include beautiful illustrations, commentary by ordinary people, and links to recordings, videos, and sheet music. Your purchase will help us keep our site online!